Garment for selectively supporting shields for expressing milk

Abstract

A nursing garment includes an interior front layer, an intermediate front layer, and an exterior front layer. The interior front layer includes soft cups for supporting breasts of the wearer and each defining an opening through the interior front layer providing access to a different one of the breasts of the wearer. The intermediate front layer includes two padded cups, is positioned immediately adjacent the interior front layer, and defines an intermediate front layer neckline edge and intermediate front layer underarm edges. The two padded cups overlie the soft cups such that each of the two padded cups covers a different one of the openings of the interior front layer. The exterior front layer extends over the intermediate front layer substantially covering the intermediate front layer and defines exterior front layer underarm edges each sewn to a different one of the intermediate front layer underarm edges.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A nursing garment configured to be worn by a wearer having breasts, the nursing garment comprising:
 an interior front layer adapted to be positioned immediately adjacent the wearer during use of the nursing garment, the interior front layer including soft cups for supporting the breasts of the wearer, wherein each of the soft cups defines an opening through the interior front layer providing access to a different one of the breasts of the wearer; 
 an intermediate front layer including two padded cups, the intermediate front layer being positioned immediately adjacent the interior front layer, the intermediate front layer defining an intermediate front layer neckline edge and intermediate front layer underarm edges extending away from opposing ends of the intermediate front layer neckline edge, wherein the two padded cups of the intermediate front layer overlie the soft cups of the interior front layer such that each of the two padded cups covers a different one of the openings of the interior front layer; and 
 an exterior front layer extending over the intermediate front layer opposite the interior front layer, the exterior front layer substantially covering the intermediate front layer, wherein:
 the exterior front layer defines exterior front layer underarm edges each sewn to a different one of the intermediate front layer underarm edges, 
 to permit nursing, the intermediate front layer and the exterior front layer collectively fold down away from the interior front layer permitting access to one or more of the breasts of the wearer via one or more of the openings of the interior front layer, 
 the interior front layer defines an interior front layer bottom edge and an interior front layer neckline edge opposite the interior front layer bottom edge; and 
 
 a first clip portion coupled to the interior front layer at an end of the interior front layer neckline edge; and 
 a second clip portion coupled to the intermediate front layer at an end of the intermediate front layer neckline edge and the exterior front layer, wherein the second clip portion is adjacent to one of each of the intermediate front layer underarm edges and the exterior front layer underarm edges, and the second clip portion selectively couples with the first clip portion when the exterior front layer overlays an entirety of both of the interior front layer and the intermediate front layer. 
 
     
     
       2. The nursing garment of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior front layer underarm edges are each sewn to the different one of the intermediate front layer underarm edges along a substantial entirety of a length of a corresponding one of the exterior front layer underarm edges. 
     
     
       3. The nursing garment of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate front layer includes opposing intermediate front layer side edges extending downwardly from the intermediate front layer underarm edges, and the intermediate front layer extends continuously between the opposing intermediate front layer side edges in a manner defining the two padded cups between the opposing intermediate front layer side edges. 
     
     
       4. The nursing garment of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an interior rear layer having opposing interior rear layer side edges; and 
 an exterior rear layer having opposing exterior rear layer side edges; 
 wherein:
 the interior front layer includes opposing interior front layer side edges, 
 the exterior front layer includes opposing exterior front layer side edges, and 
 the opposing interior rear layer side edges and the opposing exterior rear layer side edges are each secured to a different one of the opposing interior front layer side edges, a different one of the opposing intermediate front layer side edges, and a different one of the opposing exterior front layer side edges. 
 
 
     
     
       5. The nursing garment of  claim 4 , wherein the opposing interior rear layer side edges and the opposing exterior rear layer side edges are each secured to differing ones of the opposing interior front layer side edges, the opposing intermediate front layer side edges, and the opposing exterior front layer side edges via sewing. 
     
     
       6. The nursing garment of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the intermediate front layer defines an intermediate front layer bottom edge, and 
 the intermediate front layer bottom edge is coextensive with and coupled to the interior front layer bottom edge. 
 
     
     
       7. The nursing garment of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the intermediate front layer neckline edge is opposite the intermediate front layer bottom edge; 
 the exterior front layer defines an exterior front layer neckline edge extending between the exterior front layer underarm edges; and 
 the intermediate front layer neckline edge extends free relative to the interior front layer neckline edge and the exterior front layer neckline edge. 
 
     
     
       8. The nursing garment of  claim 6 , further comprising an elastic band sewn to and extending along each of the interior front layer bottom edge and the intermediate front layer bottom edge in a manner at least partially coupling the interior front layer to the intermediate front layer, wherein the elastic band is configured to extend below the breasts and around a torso of the wearer. 
     
     
       9. The nursing garment of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate front layer is characterized by an absence of any apertures formed therethrough. 
     
     
       10. The nursing garment of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the interior front layer defines an interior front layer neckline edge and an interior front layer bottom edge, 
 the interior front layer continuously extends between the interior front layer neckline edge and the interior front layer bottom edge other than the opening defined by each of the soft cups, and 
 the interior front layer neckline edge extends entirely separately from the intermediate front layer neckline edge. 
 
     
     
       11. The nursing garment of  claim 1 , wherein each of the two padded cups are preformed with a convex outer profile. 
     
     
       12. A nursing garment configured to be worn by a wearer having breasts, the nursing garment comprising:
 an interior front layer adapted to be positioned immediately adjacent the wearer during use of the nursing garment, the interior front layer including soft cups for supporting the breasts of the wearer, wherein each of the soft cups defines an opening through the interior front layer providing access to a different one of the breasts of the wearer; 
 an intermediate front layer including two padded cups, the intermediate front layer being positioned immediately adjacent the interior front layer, the intermediate front layer defining an intermediate front layer neckline edge and intermediate front layer underarm edges extending away from opposing ends of the intermediate front layer neckline edge, wherein the two padded cups of the intermediate front layer overlie the soft cups of the interior front layer such that each of the two padded cups covers a different one of the openings of the interior front layer; 
 an exterior front layer extending over the intermediate front layer opposite the interior front layer, the exterior front layer substantially covering the intermediate front layer, wherein:
 the exterior front layer defines exterior front layer underarm edges each sewn to a different one of the intermediate front layer underarm edges, 
 to permit nursing, the intermediate front layer and the exterior front layer collectively fold down away from the interior front layer permitting access to one or more of the breasts of the wearer via one or more of the openings of the interior front layer, 
 the intermediate front layer defines an intermediate front layer bottom edge, 
 the interior front layer defines an interior front layer bottom edge and an interior front layer neckline edge opposite the interior front layer bottom edge, and 
 the intermediate front layer bottom edge is coextensive with and coupled to the interior front layer bottom edge; and 
 
 a first clip portion coupled to the interior front layer at an end of the interior front layer neckline edge, and 
 a second clip portion coupled to the intermediate front layer at an end of the intermediate front layer neckline edge and the exterior front layer, wherein the second clip portion is adjacent to one of each of the intermediate front layer underarm edges and the exterior front layer underarm edges, and the second clip portion selectively couples with the first clip portion when the exterior front layer overlays an entirety of both of the interior front layer and the intermediate front layer. 
 
     
     
       13. The nursing garment of  claim 12 , wherein the each of the intermediate front layer neckline edge and the intermediate front layer bottom edge are continuously formed as they extend across a width of the intermediate front layer defined between opposing side edges of the intermediate front layer. 
     
     
       14. A nursing garment configured to be worn by a wearer having breasts, the nursing garment comprising:
 an interior front layer adapted to be positioned immediately adjacent the wearer during use of the nursing garment, the interior front layer including soft cups for supporting the breasts of the wearer, wherein each of the soft cups defines an opening through the interior front layer providing access to a different one of the breasts of the wearer; 
 an intermediate front layer including two padded cups, the intermediate front layer being positioned immediately adjacent the interior front layer, the intermediate front layer defining an intermediate front layer neckline edge and intermediate front layer underarm edges extending away from opposing ends of the intermediate front layer neckline edge, wherein the two padded cups of the intermediate front layer overlie the soft cups of the interior front layer such that each of the two padded cups covers a different one of the openings of the interior front layer; and 
 an exterior front layer extending over the intermediate front layer opposite the interior front layer, the exterior front layer substantially covering the intermediate front layer, wherein the exterior front layer defines exterior front layer underarm edges each sewn to a different one of the intermediate front layer underarm edges; 
 wherein:
 to permit nursing, the intermediate front layer and the exterior front layer collectively fold down away from the interior front layer permitting access to one or more of the breasts of the wearer via one or more of the openings of the interior front layer; 
 the intermediate front layer includes opposing intermediate front layer side edges each separately sewn to the interior front layer, 
 the intermediate front layer includes a cradle extending to each of and between the opposing intermediate front layer side edges, and 
 the cradle extends below and is coupled each of the two padded cups. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The nursing garment of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the intermediate front layer includes two underarm panels, and 
 each of the two underarm panels is coupled separately coupled to a different one of the two padded cups and to a different one of the exterior front layer underarm edges. 
 
     
     
       16. The nursing garment of  claim 15 , wherein the intermediate front layer includes a binding extending along an entirety of the intermediate front layer neckline edge and sewn to each of the two padded cups and the two underarm panels. 
     
     
       17. A method of supporting a nursing apparatus on a breast of a wearer, the method comprising:
 positioning a nursing garment over a torso and over breasts of the wearer, the nursing garment comprising: 
 an interior front layer adapted to be positioned immediately adjacent the wearer during use of the nursing garment, the interior front layer including soft cups for supporting the breasts of the wearer, wherein each of the soft cups defines an opening through the interior front layer providing access to a different one of the breasts of the wearer, 
 an intermediate front layer including two padded cups, the intermediate front layer being positioned immediately adjacent the interior front layer, the intermediate front layer defining an intermediate front layer neckline edge and intermediate front layer underarm edges extending away from opposing ends of the intermediate front layer neckline edge, wherein the two padded cups of the intermediate front layer overlie the soft cups of the interior front layer such that each of the two padded cups covers a different one of the openings of the interior front layer, and 
 an exterior front layer extending over the intermediate front layer opposite the interior front layer, the exterior front layer substantially covering the intermediate front layer, wherein the exterior front layer defines exterior front layer underarm edges each sewn to a different one of the intermediate front layer underarm edges; 
 the interior front layer defines an interior front layer bottom edge and an interior front layer neckline edge opposite the interior front layer bottom edge; and 
 a first clip portion coupled to the interior front layer at an end of the interior front layer neckline edge; and 
 a second clip portion coupled to the intermediate front layer at an end of the intermediate front layer neckline edge and the exterior front layer, wherein the second clip portion is adjacent to one of each of the intermediate front layer underarm edges and the exterior front layer underarm edges, and the second clip portion selectively couples with the first clip portion when the exterior front layer overlays an entirety of both of the interior front layer and the intermediate front layer; and 
 collectively folding down the intermediate front layer and the exterior front layer away from the interior front layer permitting access to one or more of the breasts of the wearer via one or more of the openings of the interior front layer. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 inserting a breast shield coupled with a pump apparatus between one of the breasts and the interior front layer of the nursing garment including positioning a milk transfer cylinder extending from the breast shield to extend through the opening in the interior front layer such that the breast shield is maintained in sufficient contact with the one of the breasts by the interior front layer to allow for sufficient suction for expressing milk without use of the hands of the wearer. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 expressing milk from the one of the breasts through the milk transfer cylinder and the interior front layer and into a container readily separable from a remainder of the pump apparatus. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 18 , wherein collectively folding down the intermediate front layer and the exterior front layer includes maintaining the breasts in a substantially covered manner via the interior front layer.